IDAAS at the Claremont Colleges - History & Timeline

The founding of the Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies (IDAAS) at the Claremont Colleges in 1998 was made possible by the collective efforts of students, faculty, and staff over the course of many years. As part of the larger movement of Asian American Studies, the formation of the department at Claremont is indicative of the growth and vitality of the field represented at liberal arts colleges as well as other institutions of higher education. IDAAS has joined the longstanding Intercollegiate Departments of Africana Studies and Chican@/Latin@ Studies to bring ethnic studies to the Claremont Colleges consortium.

1968-1969: Third World Strike at San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley leads to creation of Ethnic Studies.
1969: Intercollegiate Department of Black Studies (IDBS), Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA), Chicano Studies Department (CSD), and Chicano-Latino Student Association (CLSA) begin.
1974-1977: Tim Dong (PSYCH-PO) and Rick Tsujimoto offer first Asian American Studies courses at the colleges.
1980s: No Asian American Studies courses are offered at the 5Cs.
Apr. 1987: Suicide of Asian American PZ student heightens awareness of social issues facing Asian American students.
Feb. 1989: Helen Park and other PO students submit a 5C Asian American Resource Center proposal to Council of Presidents.
Fall 1989: Asian American Mentor Program (AAMP-PO) begins.
Nov. 1990: Dr. Dorrinne Kondo (PO) and other Asian American faculty lead a protest against production of Mikado.
Fall 1991: Under PO President Peter Stanley, Asian American Resource Center (AARC-PO) opens.
Spring 1991: PZ Dean of Students Jack Ling, Dr. Linus Yamane, and Dr. Joe Parker offer "Introduction to Asian American Studies." Over forty students enroll.
Mar. 1992: Community jolted when vandals alter "Asian American Studies now" on Walker Wall (PO) to "Asian Americans die now."
Summer 1992: Working group submits IDAAS proposal to Academic Deans Council.
Spring 1993: A multiracial coalition of students take over Alexander Hall (PO) and demand greater support for Ethnic Studies. Students such as Ted Lau (PO), Diana Lin (PO), Giselle Ow Yang (PO), and Janet Yoo (SC) participate. AARC-PO Faculty/Director Ruth Gim Chung offers support.
1996: A multiracial coalition at Pomona documents challenging campus climate and demand changes be made in a report titled "A Call to Action."
Feb. 1997: Planning group submits proposal for IDAAS to Academic Dean's Council and Council of Presidents.
Spring 1997: Asian American Student Alliance (AASA) organize Balch Hall teach-in calling for the formation of Asian American Studies.
1997-2001: PZ students such as Laura Tamashiro, Kent Lee, Chelsey Kadota, and Summer Kelipio rally for the creation of a PZ Asian American student center with the help of staff Loy Nashua and Brooke Yoshino.
July 1998: IDAAS created and Linus Yamane serves as first department chair.
Sep. 1998: To launch IDAAS, Dr. Ron Takaki gives keynote on Asian Americans and multiculturalism, fills Little Bridges, PO.
2001: Center for Asian Pacific American Students (CAPAS-PZ) opens with interim director Loy Nashua.
2002: SC students mobilize around "Whose Voice, Whose Vision" including Motley teach-in and press conference.
Fall 2002: Students such as LeeAnn Wang, Jessica Wang, Keith Miyake, Anna Kim and others organize for 5C Asian American Student Center (AASC).
Fall 2003: 5C Asian American advisory board launches.
Spring 2004: Ethnic Studies departments meet in Laguna to address joint appointments and submit proposal for full FTEs in Ethnic Studies during fall 2004.
Spring 2004: An art piece in the shape of a cross is found and burned by students; a social club sponsors a scavenger hunt where participants are instructed to take a picture with ten Asians.
Fall 2006: Howard Chen restarts the Asian American sponsor program, API-SPAM at Harvey Mudd.
Spring 2007: Asian American Student Alliance (AASA) mobilizes for 5C AASC. Students include Sophia Cheng, Wendy Chu, Duyen Tran, Harrison Chiu and others.
Spring 2010: First 5C API graduation organized by 5c advisory board.

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